Tuesday, August 14, 2012

God and the Vitality of Irrational Thought

Last week I was reading a book that discussed the psychology of adult
learning. Given the history of adult learning throughout the Western
world, one will find that the church was once the hub. It was pushing
and leading a systematic approach, viewed as "just as necessary for
development of human reason as revelation and grace were necessary for
salvation and maturity."

These assumptions and discoveries have informed adult learning paradigms
which are still in practice today. What I kept seeing as the focus
however, was rational thinking. It has become the teacher's role in
helping students to "think rationally." This however seems to add major
hurdles to pursuing a biblical faith.

Let me elaborate...

True grace is not rational. It makes no sense. But yet, God's economy
doesn't work like ours. Rational thought and understanding seeks
judgement and punishment for offenders, yet God seems to work in other
ways. The way of the world seeks redemptive violence, yet God works
through restoration and reconciliation. Both of these are difficult and
contrary to rational thought and practice. Even stories of miracles and
virgin births become suspect when we pursue rational thought. Because
God is increasingly mystical, works beyond the limits of understood
physics and biology, rational thought becomes a hurdle in faith
formation.

In May, many across the country celebrated the anniversary of Osama Bin
Laden's death. People were simply acting rational - good overcame
evil. But looking at God's economy and being irrational enough to
suppose that my wishes, hopes, and desires are not greater than, or even
equal to, God's, gives room to grace, restoration, and love (truly
irrational responses).

So what now?

As we're increasingly a post-modern culture, certain rational thoughts
of the past are suspect. There's room for irrational thought in
understanding and learning. And I believe, as teachers to adult
learners, we must create environments that accept and produce irrational
thinkers. We must approach the theology of God with a respect to His
irrationality. We must work to create new realities, and to move closer
to the image we were created, and to tell better stories that include
grace, reconciliation, virgin birth, miracles, seas parting, burning
bushes, the Holy Spirit, death, and resurrection.